Kenya: Huge Task for Kenya As Fiba Show Oppononents Are Revealed

EIGHT teams have now joined Kenya in qualifying for the FIBA Africa women champions to be staged in Maputo, Mozambique in September.

According to Fiba Africa, Kenya who clinched their tickets during the Zone Five tournament in Dar-es -Salaam, Tanzania last month have been joined in the 12-team championships by among others the reigning champions Angola.

The other teams that have made the cut are former champions Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire and host Mozambique after qualifying from Zones two, three and four.

Three more teams from Zones one, six and seven are expected to complete the line-up after they go through their qualifiers this week. Zone six will be represented by three teams including Angola (champions) and Mozambique (host).

Kenya romped into the continental scene for the first time since 2007 after beating powerhouse Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania to post five game unbeaten run.

Head coach Ronnie Owino said the national team will start weekly training next month in readiness for the championships that will bring together the best in the continent. The winners will represent Africa at the World Championships.

"This event is a tough one and we must start serious training if we have to make a mark. I have also identified five players from the diaspora whom we will call upon to help us make a mark in the show." said Owino.

He said without the overseas-based players, Kenya stand no chance against the best in the championships. Owino will be assisted by Philip Onyango and Sylvia Kamau-Ocholla.

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